The Right Stuff (2020) s01e01 Episode Script
Sierra Hotel
(CLOCK TICKING)
ANNOUNCER:
T-minus eight hours, five minutes.
(PANTS)
(PANTS)
ANNOUNCER: T-minus six hours to launch.
Personnel not required to
(WHISTLING)
MAN 1:
Sequencing A1 recorders to minute speed.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MAN 1: Minute speed confirmed.
-MAN 2: Flight copies.
ANNOUNCER: T-minus
five hours, twenty minutes to launch.
Tough life, huh?
Filet mignon for breakfast.
(LAUGHS)
Hell. (LAUGHS)
(CLEARS THROAT) This is a big deal.
A day like today.
Man's got to think about
what he's gonna say, you know.
-(CLEARS THROAT)
-Got to have a
Got to have something good,
something memorable.
(INHALES) You're a great pilot, John.
One of the best.
I have no doubt
you're gonna make a good astronaut.
But you went behind my back
and I know all about it.
And we're gonna go out there,
and we're gonna
turn up the wattage
for the cameras and all, but right now
we don't have to sit here
and pretend like we're best buddies.
Even on a day like today.
And no, a man shouldn't be thinking
about what he's going to say.
A man should be thinking
about what he's going to do.
Right now, what I'm doing is
I'm enjoying my breakfast.
And I'd like to eat
in some damn peace and quiet.
MAN: They're filling the tanks.
(LAUGHS)
NEWSCASTER: At Cape Canaveral,
the countdown, which could take days,
began early this morning.
The Project Mercury officials
have made no announcement
on either the timing of the launch
or the astronaut chosen.
The anticipation will, however,
be dulled by the sobering fact
that even if this experiment
is a spectacular success,
it will still leave
the United States second to Russia.
And if it's a catastrophic failure,
there will be deep gloom compounded by
the tragic loss, perhaps, of human life.
NEWSCASTER 2: This is America's effort
after two and a half years of preparation,
two and a half years
since the go-ahead was given
to Project Mercury.
-(DOOR CLANGS)
-(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
NEWSCASTER 2:
The Redstone rocket is ready.
The Mercury capsule is ready.
Our astronaut is ready.
Now everything is in readiness,
and it is T-minus nine.
Nine minutes before this first attempt
to put a man into space
by the United States.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
JOHN F. KENNEDY:
Now, it is time to take longer strides.
Time for a great new American enterprise.
Time for this nation to take
a clearly leading role
in space achievement,
which in many ways
may hold the key to our future on Earth.
MAN: Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,
five, four, three, two, one
(LAUGHTER)
Are you read You ready for it
You ready?
-Yeah. Re Ready Freddy.
-Yeah. Lay it on me.
Oil.
-Oil.
-Oil.
-Mm.
-They're drilling like crazy
over in Kern County
and I'm thinking, "Okay."
-I'll, uh, catch on as a roughneck.
-Right.
Learn the trade, earn some scratch,
and buy up some land.
Land is where it is at.
-Yeah. Oil.
-Oil. You get it.
(LAUGHTER)
WOMAN: (SINGING ON TV) It's so handy
Having Q-tips 'round the house
You can do so much with Q-tips
'Round the house
Your pets deserve loving care
Clean their ears, eyes, and paws
With gentle Q-tips cotton swabs
It's so handy
Sure you're up for this?
Hey. I'm on chase today. I'm golden.
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
Just another day at the office.
(MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
(PLANE ENGINES ROAR)
-(INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT)
-(PHONE RINGING)
-GLYNN: Sorry.
-Get in here. And shut the damn door.
Well actually, I'm looking
for the Space Task Group.
Where are you from?
Old Forge, Pennsylvania.
I knew a fella from Old Forge.
Family had a goat farm.
Do goats shit in your ears
in Old Forge, Pennsylvania?
-Uh, no, sir.
-So, it's safe to say there's no goat shit
impeding your ability
to understand human speech?
Is that the list of test pilots?
-Uh, yes. Yes, sir.
-Well, get on in here, kid.
Welcome to NASA.
(ENGINE ROARS)
CAL: (OVER RADIO)
How am I looking back there, Gordo?
You're clean and dry. Test complete.
This old bird's got a funny chirp.
I think it needs to be let out
of its cage.
Drexel will go ballistic if he finds out.
We're out of radar contact.
He ain't gonna find out.
Right on your tail.
This is all of 'em?
Best test pilots in the military.
Yes, sir.
How come there's no Marines?
Oh, uh, the Navy guys told me
they make all the best test pilots,
and the also-rans get booted back
to the Marines.
Chris, this young man says
the Navy, which has
a widely acknowledged rivalry
with the Marines, tells him
there's no good Marine pilots.
Would you baste that turkey?
-I would not.
-I'll find some Marines, but, uh
No. See, that's (CHUCKLES)
-It's Andy Holt, he's a
-War hero.
Get ready, Gordo.
I'm about to push through the number.
Mr. Lunney, every trade
has its occupational quirks.
-Lawyers cheat on their spouses.
-(PLANE RATTLING)
BOB: Politicians take bribes.
Writers like to drink.
Coming left.
GORDON: Easy! That's a lot of G, Cal.
Cal! Cal? Cal, eject!
And test pilots
Cal! Eject! Goddamn it Cal, eject!
Eject, Jesus Christ, Cal! Eject! Cal!
Well, test pilots have
a particularly odd habit.
Cal! Cal! Cal!
A lot of them die.
I asked for a list of the best test pilots
in the United States.
Well, son, your list is out of date.
None of the best test pilots are dead.
What we're doing here has consequences
for the entire world.
If Russia gets a man into space first,
we could lose the Cold War,
and we don't have any time for do-overs.
Morning.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MAN 3: Uh, yes I did, sir.
-Morning, Henry.
-John Glenn.
Look what came in today.
-JOHN: Would you look at that?
-HENRY: It's on me.
No, I'll do you one better.
-I'll buy us both a copy.
-Well, thank you.
JOHN: Yes, sir.
(CHUCKLES)
HENRY:
You know, that's a real nice shot of you.
Oh, well, thank you, sir.
I think anybody would look good standing
next to a beast like that.
Have yourself a good day.
Say hello to that little lady of yours.
-Okay. And keep smiling. (CHUCKLES)
-I couldn't stop if I tried.
GLYNN: New list.
Paint my pecker,
he even found you a Marine, Bob.
-One whole Marine, who is it?
-John Glenn.
Oh, I love John Glenn.
He was on Name That Tune,
same day Sputnik went up.
A bit of a showboat
with the Project Bullet thing.
How could you put a list together
and not include John Glenn?
Yeah. He named all the tunes, Lunney.
John Glenn. That's good.
How old is he?
"Project Bullet set a record which
would not soon be broken, but at 38"
"But at 38, Major Glenn has reached
the practical age limit
"for piloting complicated
pieces of machinery through the air,
"and so it falls to a new generation
of daredevils to best Glenn's feat
"and take the nation beyond
this career-capping accomplishment."
I get all that right?
Uh, it says "achievement,"
not "accomplishment".
(CHUCKLES) What?
-It's not that bad.
-(SNICKERS) Oh, it's a eulogy.
This is your next achievement.
-You You're helping to make it.
-I don't care about making it.
-I wanna fly it.
-You wouldn't be flying anything.
-You'd be two tons of dead weight.
-No. I'd be the first man in space.
(CHUCKLES)
You already have enough glory, John.
Every schoolkid is gonna know
the name of the first American in space.
His face is gonna be everywhere.
He'll never be forgotten.
That's not glory.
That's history.
CHRIS: Jared Felner, he's not too shabby.
BOB: Kyle Westin, needs more experience.
-Harvey Hondorf.
-Gary Oglevee.
Alan Shepard.
-Alan Shepard.
-Who's Alan Shepard?
One of the best pilots
the Navy has ever seen.
Yes, he is.
And he's also one of the most reckless.
There you are. All alone up in the sky.
-You look down and cars are like ants.
-(WOMAN CHUCKLES)
Boulders like pebbles.
And you're like a god.
Oh, a god, huh? (LAUGHS)
It's nice that you're so modest.
ALAN: Pilots are not modest. (SIGHS)
Not the good ones, anyway.
Or the ones who know how to do it right.
And when you push the throttle
all the way up,
and you're getting close
to the speed of sound,
-there's all these vibrations.
-(WOMAN LAUGHS)
And then you push
through the sound barrier,
and everything is just
smooth.
So it is better than sex.
Well, like sex, the less of it you get,
the more of it you want.
I've been promoted.
WOMAN: Hmm.
So now I don't fly as much.
Okay. So, you're a test pilot,
born in New Hampshire,
and you're married.
But you still won't tell me your name.
But I'll tell you anything you wanna know.
I can tell you my shoe size,
my blood type just not my name.
-What, makes it too real?
-ALAN: No, it isn't real.
-It's all just a dream.
-Hmm.
Well, if it's all just a dream
then come back to bed.
I gotta go.
What could possibly
be more important than this?
-(COMMENTATOR TALKING ON TV)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(LAUGHS)
-(CLEARS THROAT)
Al, hey.
Uh, Rick, you know Alan Shepard.
The most talented test pilot
the Navy's got.
I need more hours, Bob.
Excuse us a minute, would you?
Thank you.
How's that tuna you been chasing, huh?
Red-headed number
with a wiggle in her hiney.
X-14s, F-100s, it doesn't matter,
just something that I can fly.
-What's Admiral Wright got you doing?
-Readiness officer for two years.
Bob, I'm staring at graph paper all day,
I'm calculating the fuel needs
for aircraft carriers
RO's a cushy assignment.
Regular hours,
home in time to see the kids.
It's a desk job.
I didn't ask for regular hours.
You can donate a point of your IQ
to everyone in this place
and still be smarter
than almost all of them.
Is that supposed to flatter me?
And unlike your peers,
you can do a day's worth of our work
in a couple of hours.
I belong in a plane. I was promised.
No, you kept mouthing off,
and we said we'd see what we could do.
Just come on.
-Can you help me out?
-Al, you're not a full-time pilot anymore.
Look around, look where you are.
You won.
Start acting like it.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES)
PASTOR: "If I say, surely the darkness
shall cover me,
"even the night shall be light about me.
"Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee,
but the night shineth as the day.
"The darkness and the light
are both alike
"thou hast covered me
in my mother's womb.
"And I will praise thee,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
"Marvelous are thy works,
and that my soul knoweth right well."
(PLANE ENGINES RUMBLING)
(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)
GORDON: Sir.
Ah. Captain Cooper.
Sir, b (SIGHS)
I I've been doing some thinking.
Well, I thought long and hard and
in light of (SIGHS)
Well, sir, I have I have a family,
I have two girls, and I was hoping
(SIGHS)
I would like to put in for a transfer.
Transfer?
You know, fly transpos, 131s or
or something like that.
How's the hand?
-Better, sir.
-What happened exactly?
A jar of peaches, see,
I dropped it on the kitchen tile
and went to pick up the shards, and
Well, I was on the phone, got distracted.
I hadn't had my coffee yet, sir.
Look.
We're all saddened by Cal's passing.
I just wanna make sure
we're all on the same page.
Yes, sir.
(CLEARS THROAT) You and Cal did
everything by the book that day?
Cal was a top-notch stick-and-rudder man,
sir, if that's what you're asking.
But we are test pilots.
We push things,
and sometimes they break.
Cal wasn't just your wingman,
he was your friend. Isn't that right?
That's correct, sir.
You wouldn't wanna soil
the reputation of a friend, would you?
And I assume you won't wanna bring
further scrutiny to your squadron
or what we do here?
I believe in what we do here,
all I meant to say was that situations
in the air can be complex.
Complexity can be confusing.
-I suppose so, sir.
-Simple story, Cooper.
-Simple story, sir?
-Jar of peaches.
-Sit tight.
-Sir?
There's a courier from Washington
with a message for you.
Won't even tell me what it is.
Oh, and, uh, transfer denied.
Captain Cooper?
-What's this?
-It's top secret, sir.
COURIER: Major Glenn?
That is the nicest thing
anyone's ever said to me.
I'm Major Glenn.
(CLEARS THROAT)
I'll be waiting outside, sir.
"Top secret communication. Eyes only.
"To Major John Glenn, US Marine Corps,
please report to Langley Air Force Base.
"Secret airman briefing,
Monday, February 9th.
"Disembark to the Chamberlain Hotel,
11:00 a.m. of same.
"Civilian attire. ID as Bill Baker."
-It's the space program.
-It's the space program.
It's the space program! (LAUGHS)
-(DOOR OPENS)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(LAUGHTER)
Uh, three whiskeys.
Hey, Shepard.
We're racing to Langley in the morning,
loser buys drinks, you in?
Langley?
The telegram, numb nuts.
What telegram?
Uh
What telegram, Wally?
Oh, nothing, just a briefing.
-Wally, just shut up.
-You got a telegram about a briefing?
We're racing to Langley, that's all.
What kind of briefing?
-No, no. No brief
-Shut up, Wally.
-Go to hell, Jimmy!
-Hey, come on, come on.
-ALAN: Hey.
-Look
I don't even know. Okay?
They told us to go to Langley,
bunch of test pilots, some secret thing.
That's all I know, swear to God.
And I just thought that you would know
because you're, you know, you.
(KEYS JINGLING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Hi, there. Uh, checking in.
-Name?
-Bill Baker.
Not only do you all have the same name
you all look the same, too.
MALE VOICE: Hey, Shepard.
Hey. This came Friday.
They said only the addressee
could sign for it,
so I pretended to be you.
Almost didn't work
because I'm so damn handsome.
-Oh, so, last night
-Oh, you idiot.
-It starts in two hours.
-Wha What does?
I don't know.
Shh
CHRIS: The capsule sits upon 25 tons
of highly combustible ethyl alcohol
and liquid oxygen,
powering a Rocketdyne engine
that provides 78,000 pounds
of thrust.
Now, if these specifications
sound familiar,
it's because, well,
we've essentially removed
the core from a nuclear missile.
And we wanna put you in its place.
(CAR HORN BLARES)
ALAN: Shepard! Shepard! Damn it.
Alan Shepard.
Lieutenant commander very late.
Now, would we like to test
the Mercury-Redstone system for years
before risking a man's life?
Yes. But are we afforded such a luxury
with the Russians
sneaking satellites through our backyard?
CHRIS: We are not.
(TIRES SQUEALING)
(MEN CHATTING INDISTINCTLY)
(DOOR SLAMS)
Now, you gentlemen are accustomed
to testing dangerous, unproven aircraft,
and yet, somehow,
you've made it this far in one piece.
Most of you have families.
You have careers. You have lives.
That could all come to an abrupt halt
if you sign on to this endeavor.
We wanna take 32 of you to Lovelace Clinic
for medical evaluations,
but only seven of you will have
what it takes.
And those seven
will be the Mercury astronauts.
Now, we have a fantastic agency
in the making.
But to be frank, the Russians
are sprinting around the track,
and we are still at the starting block,
tying our shoelaces.
CHRIS: We need to work fast,
we need to work smart.
And we need the best.
Our very way of life is at stake.
The choice is yours, gentlemen.
Sleep on it. Call your wives.
Get word to Mr. Lunney by morning.
(ALL CLAMORING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER)
-Hey there. Gordo Cooper.
-Scott Carpenter.
Ricky Carsrud.
Well, hot damn.
-That's a sight.
-GORDON: What?
Just two of the best pilots
who ever lived.
And they'll be the first to tell you.
I can't believe that's our competition.
-Nice to meet you.
-Yeah.
-So, did I miss much?
-No, not really.
(CLEARS THROAT)
-Well, John, what do you think?
-You know how these things go.
A lot of promises out of the gate,
and then you hit a wall of red tape.
Come on. A civilian agency?
Yeah.
You know, if they were really committed,
it would be a branch of the military.
-It could just be a publicity stunt.
-Well, you love those.
-Scotch.
-BARTENDER: Yes, sir, right away.
So, I'm guessing you're in?
-(ALAN CHUCKLES)
-Yeah. Yeah, I'm gonna do it.
Now, was that so hard?
It's almost like you're afraid
of the competition,
you wanna thin the pack.
No. No, I'm pretty sure
I'll be one of the seven.
Well then, congratulations
and good luck. (SIGHS)
Thank you.
But what? You're, uh
No, I'm not gonna be one of the seven.
-No?
-Nope.
I'm gonna be the first man in space.
Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself,
Gordo Cooper.
-It's a real honor.
-The pleasure is all mine, Gordo.
Thank you.
We might just be a part
of history here tonight.
It's quite a moment for our country
and the entire human race.
Geez.
What are you drinking?
Scotch it is.
-BARTENDER: Right away.
-Okay, sure.
-SCOTT: Well, look who it is.
-You crash the gates or what?
You thought I'd get left behind?
Oh, it's good seeing you, John.
You enjoy that seltzer.
So, Gordo, what's the story
behind that paw? Who's the other guy?
-Take it easy, guys.
-Yeah. Good night, John.
Deke.
Gus.
Rye?
Rye.
You fish?
Fishing's my favorite.
Also cars.
You?
I love cars and camping.
-Big outdoors.
-Hmm.
All right, then.
Yup.
(WOMAN LAUGHING)
-So, how would I say my drink is empty?
-Well
you would say your go juice is bingo,
and it's time to tank up.
And what's Sierra Hotel?
-Well, Sierra Hotel is what I am.
-CAROL: Oh?
You take the S from Sierra,
the H from Hotel,
-stands for "shit hot."
-(LAUGHS)
-I'm Carol.
-Bill.
Oh, hey there, I'm Bill.
Bill.
-(CHUCKLES)
-SCOTT: Bill.
Oh, let me guess. Bill?
William.
-(LAUGHTER)
-Very funny, boys.
Goodnight.
-To drinking, flying, and screwing.
-(LAUGHS)
As long as the first doesn't get
in the way of the last.
Sorry about all that.
Let me walk you to your room.
-Are you making a pass at me?
-Oh, God. No.
I did that 15 minutes ago.
-(LAUGHS)
-Now, I'm just flagrantly hitting on you.
809, please.
-(CAROL LAUGHING)
-ALAN: I am on your wing.
-MALE VOICE: Your key, sir.
-Thank you.
(GLASSES CLATTER)
-Where's the kid?
-Test pilots aren't our only option.
-What about acrobats?
-Jockeys.
They're small, they could easily fit
into the capsule.
Lunney!
-Two. Two.
-Only two signed on?
Only two declined.
We've got three days to narrow the list
from 108 to 32.
Yes. One week of medical
and psychological evaluation.
Lieutenant Clark, please.
Uh, Glynn Lunney,
uh, Space Task Group. Thank you.
Your itinerary is on its way.
-It'll arrive by courier tomorrow morning.
-JOHN: Well, that's great.
And thank you, Mr. Gilruth.
(STAMMERING) You really w
want this, don't you?
You remember when we were kids?
-Wills Creek? (LAUGHS)
-(LAUGHS)
I always thought if I just
if I just went a little further,
one day, I'd come around a bend,
and then I'd be the first person
to step foot somewhere new.
But it wasn't true.
Every inch of the world
has been picked over.
Well, you're almost (STAMMERS)
40, John.
-Not enough adventure yet?
-(SCOFFS)
(SIGHS)
This is my chance to be the first
at something memorable.
And I want it more than anyone, Annie.
(SIGHS)
I have to be gone all week.
New Mexico, a bunch of medical stuff.
I was thinking,
get somebody to help you out.
Help (STAMMERS) me out?
You'll be going into
(STAMMERS) space alone.
Who's gonna help you out?
(PHONE RINGING)
-Hello?
-CHRIS: Captain Cooper, Chris Kraft.
Calling to see if you're still interested
in Project Mercury.
Um (CHUCKLES) Morning, sir.
Uh, yeah. You're damn right I am.
CHRIS: Good.
We'll send over some materials,
and we'll also need
to schedule an interview
with your wife and family.
-Uh, my family? What What for?
-CHRIS: Just part of the background check.
Of course. Uh, I'll let them know.
(CHUCKLES)
Thank you so much, Mr. Kraft.
(RAIN POURING)
(KNOCKING)
-Gordo, why are you
-GORDON: Hi.
Where's, uh where's your mom
and and the girls?
Asleep.
What are you doing here?
I have some news, and, um
I need a big favor.
Listen, if you'd just come home
TRUDY: I can't come home, Gordo.
You know that.
I'm trying to live my life.
They're only taking men
with stable families.
They know we're separated, I'll wash out.
I don't know, Gordo.
We could start over.
I just did start over.
Think about what this could mean
for the girls.
Gordo.
It's space, Trudy.
It's space.
Please.
That really hurts.
-(WOMAN SCREAMING)
-(BABY CRYING)
-(GLASS SHATTERING)
-(OVERLAPPING SCREAMS)
(RETCHES)
DOCTOR:
We'll insert this into your rectum.
After your sphincters relax,
most of the pain should subside.
(SCOFFS)
-(OVERLAPPING CLAMOR)
-(GLASS SHATTERING)
(WOMAN SOBS)
What the hell was that?
And you'll gag right about
-(GAGS)
-DOCTOR: now.
How many of these do I got to do
to go to space, huh?
(PANTING)
(SIGHS)
DR. WHITE: You have 15 minutes
to answer the following question.
"Who am I?" You may begin.
"I am a man who values my privacy."
-This isn't an interrogation, Alan.
-What a relief.
DR. WHITE: Many men find it can be
rewarding to explore one's emotions
in a safe environment such as this.
-ALAN: Safe environment.
-Such as this.
-ALAN: Hmm.
-Yes.
Well, I said all I need to say.
Do you have a good relationship
with your mother?
-Yup.
-And your father? How about him?
Doc, you're looking for a brain
that's been scrambled into a strange soup
and that's just not who I am.
-How's your home life? Is it happy?
-(SIGHS) All right.
Have you ever cheated on your wife?
You know, I'm one of the best pilots
the United States Navy has ever known.
Me and the other men,
we have been here almost a week.
And all you have done is shove scopes
down our throats and up our butts,
collecting samples of God knows what,
fluids that I had no idea
were sloshing around inside me,
and that's fine.
I draw the line at this.
You don't get to poke around in here, Doc.
My family, my home life, that is mine.
Sure as hell has nothing to do
with how good a pilot I am,
or how well I would do in space.
I know how good of a pilot you are, Alan.
And your medical evaluation places you
near the head of the pack.
Simple fact is, you're too good.
You puff your chest like someone who knows
he'll be picked for the job.
Probably right.
But you aren't honest with yourself,
and that will catch up with you.
Eventually.
(FOOTSTEPS ECHOING)
Well, it looks like you made it out alive.
Yeah. Well, I'll probably drop dead
right around the time we're over Phoenix.
(LAUGHS)
You know, a few months ago,
I was walking on the beach
with a scientist buddy of mine.
He tells me that for every grain of sand
on all the beaches in the world
there's at least 50 stars in the universe.
I stood there staring at sand
for a good hour.
(LAUGHS)
Pretty wild.
To be born in this country,
right at the moment we finally slip off
and go exploring it all.
You know, all I've heard about all week
is drinking, and girls,
and guys comparing the size
of their giggle sticks.
-(CHUCKLES)
-Nobody's said one word about space
except you.
Well, that's where we're going, isn't it?
-They're all incredible.
-And they're all terrible.
Let's start with the easy ones.
All right, troops.
Come on. We got five minutes.
Otherwise,
we're gonna be late for service.
(PHONE RINGING)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hello?
Yes. Hello, Mr. Kraft.
I am. Yes. Yes. I'd be honored.
And thank you, sir.
I won't let you down.
-I got it.
-(LAUGHS)
-BOY: Got what?
-(JOHN LAUGHS)
Well, it's an honor
and a privilege, Mr. Gilruth.
I can't wait to get started.
Much thanks to you, sir.
-Congratulations, Al.
-I couldn't have done it without you, Lou.
T. KEITH GLENNAN: Which of these men
will be first to orbit the Earth,
-I cannot tell you.
-(PHONE RINGING)
KEITH: He won't know himself
until the day of the flight.
The astronaut training program
will last probably two years.
Hello?
Yes.
KEITH: Gentlemen, it's my pleasure
-to introduce to you
-It would be an absolute honor.
Gus!
KEITH: Virgil I. Grissom
Donald K. Slayton
John H. Glenn
Walter M. Schirra
Malcolm S. Carpenter
-GORDON: I got it!
-(GIRLS CHEERING)
-You got it!
-You're gonna be an astronaut!
-Daddy's gonna be
-KEITH: Leroy G. Cooper
You did it!
-(ALL CHEERING)
-MALE VOICE: There's the man!
-Ah! To the space program.
-ALL: To the space program.
(LAUGHTER)
KEITH: Alan B. Shepard.
-(APPLAUSE)
-KEITH: These, ladies and gentlemen,
are the nation's Mercury astronauts.
-(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
-(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
-PHOTOGRAPHER 1: Mr. Glenn!
-One more, one more, one more.
PHOTOGRAPHER 1:
Mr. Glenn. Mr. Glenn, right here please.
PHOTOGRAPHER 2: Terrific!
-(APPLAUSE)
-(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
ANNOUNCER:
T-minus eight hours, five minutes.
(PANTS)
(PANTS)
ANNOUNCER: T-minus six hours to launch.
Personnel not required to
(WHISTLING)
MAN 1:
Sequencing A1 recorders to minute speed.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MAN 1: Minute speed confirmed.
-MAN 2: Flight copies.
ANNOUNCER: T-minus
five hours, twenty minutes to launch.
Tough life, huh?
Filet mignon for breakfast.
(LAUGHS)
Hell. (LAUGHS)
(CLEARS THROAT) This is a big deal.
A day like today.
Man's got to think about
what he's gonna say, you know.
-(CLEARS THROAT)
-Got to have a
Got to have something good,
something memorable.
(INHALES) You're a great pilot, John.
One of the best.
I have no doubt
you're gonna make a good astronaut.
But you went behind my back
and I know all about it.
And we're gonna go out there,
and we're gonna
turn up the wattage
for the cameras and all, but right now
we don't have to sit here
and pretend like we're best buddies.
Even on a day like today.
And no, a man shouldn't be thinking
about what he's going to say.
A man should be thinking
about what he's going to do.
Right now, what I'm doing is
I'm enjoying my breakfast.
And I'd like to eat
in some damn peace and quiet.
MAN: They're filling the tanks.
(LAUGHS)
NEWSCASTER: At Cape Canaveral,
the countdown, which could take days,
began early this morning.
The Project Mercury officials
have made no announcement
on either the timing of the launch
or the astronaut chosen.
The anticipation will, however,
be dulled by the sobering fact
that even if this experiment
is a spectacular success,
it will still leave
the United States second to Russia.
And if it's a catastrophic failure,
there will be deep gloom compounded by
the tragic loss, perhaps, of human life.
NEWSCASTER 2: This is America's effort
after two and a half years of preparation,
two and a half years
since the go-ahead was given
to Project Mercury.
-(DOOR CLANGS)
-(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
NEWSCASTER 2:
The Redstone rocket is ready.
The Mercury capsule is ready.
Our astronaut is ready.
Now everything is in readiness,
and it is T-minus nine.
Nine minutes before this first attempt
to put a man into space
by the United States.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
JOHN F. KENNEDY:
Now, it is time to take longer strides.
Time for a great new American enterprise.
Time for this nation to take
a clearly leading role
in space achievement,
which in many ways
may hold the key to our future on Earth.
MAN: Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,
five, four, three, two, one
(LAUGHTER)
Are you read You ready for it
You ready?
-Yeah. Re Ready Freddy.
-Yeah. Lay it on me.
Oil.
-Oil.
-Oil.
-Mm.
-They're drilling like crazy
over in Kern County
and I'm thinking, "Okay."
-I'll, uh, catch on as a roughneck.
-Right.
Learn the trade, earn some scratch,
and buy up some land.
Land is where it is at.
-Yeah. Oil.
-Oil. You get it.
(LAUGHTER)
WOMAN: (SINGING ON TV) It's so handy
Having Q-tips 'round the house
You can do so much with Q-tips
'Round the house
Your pets deserve loving care
Clean their ears, eyes, and paws
With gentle Q-tips cotton swabs
It's so handy
Sure you're up for this?
Hey. I'm on chase today. I'm golden.
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
Just another day at the office.
(MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
(PLANE ENGINES ROAR)
-(INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT)
-(PHONE RINGING)
-GLYNN: Sorry.
-Get in here. And shut the damn door.
Well actually, I'm looking
for the Space Task Group.
Where are you from?
Old Forge, Pennsylvania.
I knew a fella from Old Forge.
Family had a goat farm.
Do goats shit in your ears
in Old Forge, Pennsylvania?
-Uh, no, sir.
-So, it's safe to say there's no goat shit
impeding your ability
to understand human speech?
Is that the list of test pilots?
-Uh, yes. Yes, sir.
-Well, get on in here, kid.
Welcome to NASA.
(ENGINE ROARS)
CAL: (OVER RADIO)
How am I looking back there, Gordo?
You're clean and dry. Test complete.
This old bird's got a funny chirp.
I think it needs to be let out
of its cage.
Drexel will go ballistic if he finds out.
We're out of radar contact.
He ain't gonna find out.
Right on your tail.
This is all of 'em?
Best test pilots in the military.
Yes, sir.
How come there's no Marines?
Oh, uh, the Navy guys told me
they make all the best test pilots,
and the also-rans get booted back
to the Marines.
Chris, this young man says
the Navy, which has
a widely acknowledged rivalry
with the Marines, tells him
there's no good Marine pilots.
Would you baste that turkey?
-I would not.
-I'll find some Marines, but, uh
No. See, that's (CHUCKLES)
-It's Andy Holt, he's a
-War hero.
Get ready, Gordo.
I'm about to push through the number.
Mr. Lunney, every trade
has its occupational quirks.
-Lawyers cheat on their spouses.
-(PLANE RATTLING)
BOB: Politicians take bribes.
Writers like to drink.
Coming left.
GORDON: Easy! That's a lot of G, Cal.
Cal! Cal? Cal, eject!
And test pilots
Cal! Eject! Goddamn it Cal, eject!
Eject, Jesus Christ, Cal! Eject! Cal!
Well, test pilots have
a particularly odd habit.
Cal! Cal! Cal!
A lot of them die.
I asked for a list of the best test pilots
in the United States.
Well, son, your list is out of date.
None of the best test pilots are dead.
What we're doing here has consequences
for the entire world.
If Russia gets a man into space first,
we could lose the Cold War,
and we don't have any time for do-overs.
Morning.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MAN 3: Uh, yes I did, sir.
-Morning, Henry.
-John Glenn.
Look what came in today.
-JOHN: Would you look at that?
-HENRY: It's on me.
No, I'll do you one better.
-I'll buy us both a copy.
-Well, thank you.
JOHN: Yes, sir.
(CHUCKLES)
HENRY:
You know, that's a real nice shot of you.
Oh, well, thank you, sir.
I think anybody would look good standing
next to a beast like that.
Have yourself a good day.
Say hello to that little lady of yours.
-Okay. And keep smiling. (CHUCKLES)
-I couldn't stop if I tried.
GLYNN: New list.
Paint my pecker,
he even found you a Marine, Bob.
-One whole Marine, who is it?
-John Glenn.
Oh, I love John Glenn.
He was on Name That Tune,
same day Sputnik went up.
A bit of a showboat
with the Project Bullet thing.
How could you put a list together
and not include John Glenn?
Yeah. He named all the tunes, Lunney.
John Glenn. That's good.
How old is he?
"Project Bullet set a record which
would not soon be broken, but at 38"
"But at 38, Major Glenn has reached
the practical age limit
"for piloting complicated
pieces of machinery through the air,
"and so it falls to a new generation
of daredevils to best Glenn's feat
"and take the nation beyond
this career-capping accomplishment."
I get all that right?
Uh, it says "achievement,"
not "accomplishment".
(CHUCKLES) What?
-It's not that bad.
-(SNICKERS) Oh, it's a eulogy.
This is your next achievement.
-You You're helping to make it.
-I don't care about making it.
-I wanna fly it.
-You wouldn't be flying anything.
-You'd be two tons of dead weight.
-No. I'd be the first man in space.
(CHUCKLES)
You already have enough glory, John.
Every schoolkid is gonna know
the name of the first American in space.
His face is gonna be everywhere.
He'll never be forgotten.
That's not glory.
That's history.
CHRIS: Jared Felner, he's not too shabby.
BOB: Kyle Westin, needs more experience.
-Harvey Hondorf.
-Gary Oglevee.
Alan Shepard.
-Alan Shepard.
-Who's Alan Shepard?
One of the best pilots
the Navy has ever seen.
Yes, he is.
And he's also one of the most reckless.
There you are. All alone up in the sky.
-You look down and cars are like ants.
-(WOMAN CHUCKLES)
Boulders like pebbles.
And you're like a god.
Oh, a god, huh? (LAUGHS)
It's nice that you're so modest.
ALAN: Pilots are not modest. (SIGHS)
Not the good ones, anyway.
Or the ones who know how to do it right.
And when you push the throttle
all the way up,
and you're getting close
to the speed of sound,
-there's all these vibrations.
-(WOMAN LAUGHS)
And then you push
through the sound barrier,
and everything is just
smooth.
So it is better than sex.
Well, like sex, the less of it you get,
the more of it you want.
I've been promoted.
WOMAN: Hmm.
So now I don't fly as much.
Okay. So, you're a test pilot,
born in New Hampshire,
and you're married.
But you still won't tell me your name.
But I'll tell you anything you wanna know.
I can tell you my shoe size,
my blood type just not my name.
-What, makes it too real?
-ALAN: No, it isn't real.
-It's all just a dream.
-Hmm.
Well, if it's all just a dream
then come back to bed.
I gotta go.
What could possibly
be more important than this?
-(COMMENTATOR TALKING ON TV)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(LAUGHS)
-(CLEARS THROAT)
Al, hey.
Uh, Rick, you know Alan Shepard.
The most talented test pilot
the Navy's got.
I need more hours, Bob.
Excuse us a minute, would you?
Thank you.
How's that tuna you been chasing, huh?
Red-headed number
with a wiggle in her hiney.
X-14s, F-100s, it doesn't matter,
just something that I can fly.
-What's Admiral Wright got you doing?
-Readiness officer for two years.
Bob, I'm staring at graph paper all day,
I'm calculating the fuel needs
for aircraft carriers
RO's a cushy assignment.
Regular hours,
home in time to see the kids.
It's a desk job.
I didn't ask for regular hours.
You can donate a point of your IQ
to everyone in this place
and still be smarter
than almost all of them.
Is that supposed to flatter me?
And unlike your peers,
you can do a day's worth of our work
in a couple of hours.
I belong in a plane. I was promised.
No, you kept mouthing off,
and we said we'd see what we could do.
Just come on.
-Can you help me out?
-Al, you're not a full-time pilot anymore.
Look around, look where you are.
You won.
Start acting like it.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES)
PASTOR: "If I say, surely the darkness
shall cover me,
"even the night shall be light about me.
"Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee,
but the night shineth as the day.
"The darkness and the light
are both alike
"thou hast covered me
in my mother's womb.
"And I will praise thee,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
"Marvelous are thy works,
and that my soul knoweth right well."
(PLANE ENGINES RUMBLING)
(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)
GORDON: Sir.
Ah. Captain Cooper.
Sir, b (SIGHS)
I I've been doing some thinking.
Well, I thought long and hard and
in light of (SIGHS)
Well, sir, I have I have a family,
I have two girls, and I was hoping
(SIGHS)
I would like to put in for a transfer.
Transfer?
You know, fly transpos, 131s or
or something like that.
How's the hand?
-Better, sir.
-What happened exactly?
A jar of peaches, see,
I dropped it on the kitchen tile
and went to pick up the shards, and
Well, I was on the phone, got distracted.
I hadn't had my coffee yet, sir.
Look.
We're all saddened by Cal's passing.
I just wanna make sure
we're all on the same page.
Yes, sir.
(CLEARS THROAT) You and Cal did
everything by the book that day?
Cal was a top-notch stick-and-rudder man,
sir, if that's what you're asking.
But we are test pilots.
We push things,
and sometimes they break.
Cal wasn't just your wingman,
he was your friend. Isn't that right?
That's correct, sir.
You wouldn't wanna soil
the reputation of a friend, would you?
And I assume you won't wanna bring
further scrutiny to your squadron
or what we do here?
I believe in what we do here,
all I meant to say was that situations
in the air can be complex.
Complexity can be confusing.
-I suppose so, sir.
-Simple story, Cooper.
-Simple story, sir?
-Jar of peaches.
-Sit tight.
-Sir?
There's a courier from Washington
with a message for you.
Won't even tell me what it is.
Oh, and, uh, transfer denied.
Captain Cooper?
-What's this?
-It's top secret, sir.
COURIER: Major Glenn?
That is the nicest thing
anyone's ever said to me.
I'm Major Glenn.
(CLEARS THROAT)
I'll be waiting outside, sir.
"Top secret communication. Eyes only.
"To Major John Glenn, US Marine Corps,
please report to Langley Air Force Base.
"Secret airman briefing,
Monday, February 9th.
"Disembark to the Chamberlain Hotel,
11:00 a.m. of same.
"Civilian attire. ID as Bill Baker."
-It's the space program.
-It's the space program.
It's the space program! (LAUGHS)
-(DOOR OPENS)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(LAUGHTER)
Uh, three whiskeys.
Hey, Shepard.
We're racing to Langley in the morning,
loser buys drinks, you in?
Langley?
The telegram, numb nuts.
What telegram?
Uh
What telegram, Wally?
Oh, nothing, just a briefing.
-Wally, just shut up.
-You got a telegram about a briefing?
We're racing to Langley, that's all.
What kind of briefing?
-No, no. No brief
-Shut up, Wally.
-Go to hell, Jimmy!
-Hey, come on, come on.
-ALAN: Hey.
-Look
I don't even know. Okay?
They told us to go to Langley,
bunch of test pilots, some secret thing.
That's all I know, swear to God.
And I just thought that you would know
because you're, you know, you.
(KEYS JINGLING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Hi, there. Uh, checking in.
-Name?
-Bill Baker.
Not only do you all have the same name
you all look the same, too.
MALE VOICE: Hey, Shepard.
Hey. This came Friday.
They said only the addressee
could sign for it,
so I pretended to be you.
Almost didn't work
because I'm so damn handsome.
-Oh, so, last night
-Oh, you idiot.
-It starts in two hours.
-Wha What does?
I don't know.
Shh
CHRIS: The capsule sits upon 25 tons
of highly combustible ethyl alcohol
and liquid oxygen,
powering a Rocketdyne engine
that provides 78,000 pounds
of thrust.
Now, if these specifications
sound familiar,
it's because, well,
we've essentially removed
the core from a nuclear missile.
And we wanna put you in its place.
(CAR HORN BLARES)
ALAN: Shepard! Shepard! Damn it.
Alan Shepard.
Lieutenant commander very late.
Now, would we like to test
the Mercury-Redstone system for years
before risking a man's life?
Yes. But are we afforded such a luxury
with the Russians
sneaking satellites through our backyard?
CHRIS: We are not.
(TIRES SQUEALING)
(MEN CHATTING INDISTINCTLY)
(DOOR SLAMS)
Now, you gentlemen are accustomed
to testing dangerous, unproven aircraft,
and yet, somehow,
you've made it this far in one piece.
Most of you have families.
You have careers. You have lives.
That could all come to an abrupt halt
if you sign on to this endeavor.
We wanna take 32 of you to Lovelace Clinic
for medical evaluations,
but only seven of you will have
what it takes.
And those seven
will be the Mercury astronauts.
Now, we have a fantastic agency
in the making.
But to be frank, the Russians
are sprinting around the track,
and we are still at the starting block,
tying our shoelaces.
CHRIS: We need to work fast,
we need to work smart.
And we need the best.
Our very way of life is at stake.
The choice is yours, gentlemen.
Sleep on it. Call your wives.
Get word to Mr. Lunney by morning.
(ALL CLAMORING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER)
-Hey there. Gordo Cooper.
-Scott Carpenter.
Ricky Carsrud.
Well, hot damn.
-That's a sight.
-GORDON: What?
Just two of the best pilots
who ever lived.
And they'll be the first to tell you.
I can't believe that's our competition.
-Nice to meet you.
-Yeah.
-So, did I miss much?
-No, not really.
(CLEARS THROAT)
-Well, John, what do you think?
-You know how these things go.
A lot of promises out of the gate,
and then you hit a wall of red tape.
Come on. A civilian agency?
Yeah.
You know, if they were really committed,
it would be a branch of the military.
-It could just be a publicity stunt.
-Well, you love those.
-Scotch.
-BARTENDER: Yes, sir, right away.
So, I'm guessing you're in?
-(ALAN CHUCKLES)
-Yeah. Yeah, I'm gonna do it.
Now, was that so hard?
It's almost like you're afraid
of the competition,
you wanna thin the pack.
No. No, I'm pretty sure
I'll be one of the seven.
Well then, congratulations
and good luck. (SIGHS)
Thank you.
But what? You're, uh
No, I'm not gonna be one of the seven.
-No?
-Nope.
I'm gonna be the first man in space.
Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself,
Gordo Cooper.
-It's a real honor.
-The pleasure is all mine, Gordo.
Thank you.
We might just be a part
of history here tonight.
It's quite a moment for our country
and the entire human race.
Geez.
What are you drinking?
Scotch it is.
-BARTENDER: Right away.
-Okay, sure.
-SCOTT: Well, look who it is.
-You crash the gates or what?
You thought I'd get left behind?
Oh, it's good seeing you, John.
You enjoy that seltzer.
So, Gordo, what's the story
behind that paw? Who's the other guy?
-Take it easy, guys.
-Yeah. Good night, John.
Deke.
Gus.
Rye?
Rye.
You fish?
Fishing's my favorite.
Also cars.
You?
I love cars and camping.
-Big outdoors.
-Hmm.
All right, then.
Yup.
(WOMAN LAUGHING)
-So, how would I say my drink is empty?
-Well
you would say your go juice is bingo,
and it's time to tank up.
And what's Sierra Hotel?
-Well, Sierra Hotel is what I am.
-CAROL: Oh?
You take the S from Sierra,
the H from Hotel,
-stands for "shit hot."
-(LAUGHS)
-I'm Carol.
-Bill.
Oh, hey there, I'm Bill.
Bill.
-(CHUCKLES)
-SCOTT: Bill.
Oh, let me guess. Bill?
William.
-(LAUGHTER)
-Very funny, boys.
Goodnight.
-To drinking, flying, and screwing.
-(LAUGHS)
As long as the first doesn't get
in the way of the last.
Sorry about all that.
Let me walk you to your room.
-Are you making a pass at me?
-Oh, God. No.
I did that 15 minutes ago.
-(LAUGHS)
-Now, I'm just flagrantly hitting on you.
809, please.
-(CAROL LAUGHING)
-ALAN: I am on your wing.
-MALE VOICE: Your key, sir.
-Thank you.
(GLASSES CLATTER)
-Where's the kid?
-Test pilots aren't our only option.
-What about acrobats?
-Jockeys.
They're small, they could easily fit
into the capsule.
Lunney!
-Two. Two.
-Only two signed on?
Only two declined.
We've got three days to narrow the list
from 108 to 32.
Yes. One week of medical
and psychological evaluation.
Lieutenant Clark, please.
Uh, Glynn Lunney,
uh, Space Task Group. Thank you.
Your itinerary is on its way.
-It'll arrive by courier tomorrow morning.
-JOHN: Well, that's great.
And thank you, Mr. Gilruth.
(STAMMERING) You really w
want this, don't you?
You remember when we were kids?
-Wills Creek? (LAUGHS)
-(LAUGHS)
I always thought if I just
if I just went a little further,
one day, I'd come around a bend,
and then I'd be the first person
to step foot somewhere new.
But it wasn't true.
Every inch of the world
has been picked over.
Well, you're almost (STAMMERS)
40, John.
-Not enough adventure yet?
-(SCOFFS)
(SIGHS)
This is my chance to be the first
at something memorable.
And I want it more than anyone, Annie.
(SIGHS)
I have to be gone all week.
New Mexico, a bunch of medical stuff.
I was thinking,
get somebody to help you out.
Help (STAMMERS) me out?
You'll be going into
(STAMMERS) space alone.
Who's gonna help you out?
(PHONE RINGING)
-Hello?
-CHRIS: Captain Cooper, Chris Kraft.
Calling to see if you're still interested
in Project Mercury.
Um (CHUCKLES) Morning, sir.
Uh, yeah. You're damn right I am.
CHRIS: Good.
We'll send over some materials,
and we'll also need
to schedule an interview
with your wife and family.
-Uh, my family? What What for?
-CHRIS: Just part of the background check.
Of course. Uh, I'll let them know.
(CHUCKLES)
Thank you so much, Mr. Kraft.
(RAIN POURING)
(KNOCKING)
-Gordo, why are you
-GORDON: Hi.
Where's, uh where's your mom
and and the girls?
Asleep.
What are you doing here?
I have some news, and, um
I need a big favor.
Listen, if you'd just come home
TRUDY: I can't come home, Gordo.
You know that.
I'm trying to live my life.
They're only taking men
with stable families.
They know we're separated, I'll wash out.
I don't know, Gordo.
We could start over.
I just did start over.
Think about what this could mean
for the girls.
Gordo.
It's space, Trudy.
It's space.
Please.
That really hurts.
-(WOMAN SCREAMING)
-(BABY CRYING)
-(GLASS SHATTERING)
-(OVERLAPPING SCREAMS)
(RETCHES)
DOCTOR:
We'll insert this into your rectum.
After your sphincters relax,
most of the pain should subside.
(SCOFFS)
-(OVERLAPPING CLAMOR)
-(GLASS SHATTERING)
(WOMAN SOBS)
What the hell was that?
And you'll gag right about
-(GAGS)
-DOCTOR: now.
How many of these do I got to do
to go to space, huh?
(PANTING)
(SIGHS)
DR. WHITE: You have 15 minutes
to answer the following question.
"Who am I?" You may begin.
"I am a man who values my privacy."
-This isn't an interrogation, Alan.
-What a relief.
DR. WHITE: Many men find it can be
rewarding to explore one's emotions
in a safe environment such as this.
-ALAN: Safe environment.
-Such as this.
-ALAN: Hmm.
-Yes.
Well, I said all I need to say.
Do you have a good relationship
with your mother?
-Yup.
-And your father? How about him?
Doc, you're looking for a brain
that's been scrambled into a strange soup
and that's just not who I am.
-How's your home life? Is it happy?
-(SIGHS) All right.
Have you ever cheated on your wife?
You know, I'm one of the best pilots
the United States Navy has ever known.
Me and the other men,
we have been here almost a week.
And all you have done is shove scopes
down our throats and up our butts,
collecting samples of God knows what,
fluids that I had no idea
were sloshing around inside me,
and that's fine.
I draw the line at this.
You don't get to poke around in here, Doc.
My family, my home life, that is mine.
Sure as hell has nothing to do
with how good a pilot I am,
or how well I would do in space.
I know how good of a pilot you are, Alan.
And your medical evaluation places you
near the head of the pack.
Simple fact is, you're too good.
You puff your chest like someone who knows
he'll be picked for the job.
Probably right.
But you aren't honest with yourself,
and that will catch up with you.
Eventually.
(FOOTSTEPS ECHOING)
Well, it looks like you made it out alive.
Yeah. Well, I'll probably drop dead
right around the time we're over Phoenix.
(LAUGHS)
You know, a few months ago,
I was walking on the beach
with a scientist buddy of mine.
He tells me that for every grain of sand
on all the beaches in the world
there's at least 50 stars in the universe.
I stood there staring at sand
for a good hour.
(LAUGHS)
Pretty wild.
To be born in this country,
right at the moment we finally slip off
and go exploring it all.
You know, all I've heard about all week
is drinking, and girls,
and guys comparing the size
of their giggle sticks.
-(CHUCKLES)
-Nobody's said one word about space
except you.
Well, that's where we're going, isn't it?
-They're all incredible.
-And they're all terrible.
Let's start with the easy ones.
All right, troops.
Come on. We got five minutes.
Otherwise,
we're gonna be late for service.
(PHONE RINGING)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hello?
Yes. Hello, Mr. Kraft.
I am. Yes. Yes. I'd be honored.
And thank you, sir.
I won't let you down.
-I got it.
-(LAUGHS)
-BOY: Got what?
-(JOHN LAUGHS)
Well, it's an honor
and a privilege, Mr. Gilruth.
I can't wait to get started.
Much thanks to you, sir.
-Congratulations, Al.
-I couldn't have done it without you, Lou.
T. KEITH GLENNAN: Which of these men
will be first to orbit the Earth,
-I cannot tell you.
-(PHONE RINGING)
KEITH: He won't know himself
until the day of the flight.
The astronaut training program
will last probably two years.
Hello?
Yes.
KEITH: Gentlemen, it's my pleasure
-to introduce to you
-It would be an absolute honor.
Gus!
KEITH: Virgil I. Grissom
Donald K. Slayton
John H. Glenn
Walter M. Schirra
Malcolm S. Carpenter
-GORDON: I got it!
-(GIRLS CHEERING)
-You got it!
-You're gonna be an astronaut!
-Daddy's gonna be
-KEITH: Leroy G. Cooper
You did it!
-(ALL CHEERING)
-MALE VOICE: There's the man!
-Ah! To the space program.
-ALL: To the space program.
(LAUGHTER)
KEITH: Alan B. Shepard.
-(APPLAUSE)
-KEITH: These, ladies and gentlemen,
are the nation's Mercury astronauts.
-(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
-(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
-PHOTOGRAPHER 1: Mr. Glenn!
-One more, one more, one more.
PHOTOGRAPHER 1:
Mr. Glenn. Mr. Glenn, right here please.
PHOTOGRAPHER 2: Terrific!
-(APPLAUSE)
-(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)